A Digital Box and Block Test for Hand Dexterity Measurement: Instrument Validation Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The Block Test (BBT) measures unilateral gross manual dexterity and is widely used in clinical settings. OBJECTIVE In this study, we present a new developed digitized version of the BBT, called digital BBT (dBBT), which automates the test procedure, timing, and score measurement. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the dBBT. METHODS 29 healthy subjects performed measurements at two measurement points. BBT and dBBT were used at the first measurement time point, and dBBT was used again at the second measurement time point. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation between BBT and dBBT, paired t-test and the Bland Altman analysis. Test-retest reliability and interrater reliability were examined using the interrater correlation coefficient (ICC) by repeated measures with the dBBT within an interval of 10 days. RESULTS Our results showed a moderate concurrent validity (r=0.48, P=.008), moderate test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.72, P<.001), SEM: 3.1 blocks and SDC95 value was 8.5 blocks. Interrater reliability is moderate with ICC: 0.67, P=.023. The Bland Altman analysis showed a sufficient accuracy of the dBBT in comparison with the conventional BBT. CONCLUSIONS The dBBT can contribute to objectify the measurement of gross hand dexterity without losing its important characteristics, the simplicity of implementation. CLINICALTRIAL This study has been registered on open science framework and the registration number is DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BW2M4 (registration information is available at https://osf.io/bw2m4).